Priscilla Presley opens up about Elvis

January 8th marks what would have been the king of Rock 'n' Roll's 80th birthday. Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8th, 1935. His short but successful career ended when he died in 1977, at the age of 42 from heart complications.

The King's memory is still alive in the hearts of fans worldwide, and thousands gathered outside the gates of Graceland, his Memphis home, to celebrate his birthday.

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Priscilla Presley

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Priscilla Presley opens up about Elvis

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Priscilla Presley attends the opening of the 'Elvis At The O2' exhibition at The O2 Arena on December 15, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Priscilla Presley attends the opening of the 'Elvis At The O2' exhibition at The O2 Arena on December 15, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Priscilla Presley visits the 'Elvis at the 02' exhibition at 02 Arena on December 15, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

US actress Priscilla Presley poses with a pair of bongos which she gifted to Elvis Presley during a photocall for the 'Elvis at the O2' exhibition in in London on December 15, 2014. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley, mingles with fans and signs autographs outside her father's Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee on August 17, 2012, a day after the 35th anniversary of his death. She earlier appeared with her mother Priscilla Presley for a half-hour at Graceland to field questions about her late father, her life and her career as a singer-songwriter -- the first time she has ever done so during Elvis Week. AFP PHOTO / CAROLINE GROUSSAIN (Photo credit should read CAROLINE GROUSSAIN/AFP/GettyImages)

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Presley's former wife Priscilla spoke with the Today Show and said she's shocked at how quickly time has passed.

"It's hard to believe ... 80 years old makes you realize how young he was when he passed ... So that to me is just mind-boggling, the fact that he was so young when he passed. I felt he still had so much he wanted to do."

The three-time Grammy winner performed 1,100 shows, had 18 number one hits and starred in 31 feature films. Priscilla says if he had not died at such a young age, music would have always been part of his life. She told Today, 'He was born to be who he was, truly, and he enjoyed being who he was. I think that to continue his music was something he would do.'

If Sir Swivel Hips was still alive, we're willing to bet there would have been an 80th birthday party full of fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, leisure suits and of course blue suede shoes.

Priscilla says Graceland has some major celebrations planned, all fit for a King. "Four days of events actually, from charity events to music to dancing to movie screenings. Four fun full days."